Still nervous, but have some positive news

ChrisMcG

My mom was diagnosed with Stage III/IV Ovarian Cancer on May 4th. The reason its split, is because there were signs pointing to both...Anyway when she was first diagnosed she had a CA549 now it is CA129. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I hear it's good.

Life has pretty much been going on normal since she has started chemo. Everyone is extremely positive, which is great. Her doctor has said she is the healthiest patient he has seen in 30 years.

But here is where I get worried...I hear ovarian cancer is like a paint splatter, just randomly located. I know next to nothing about cancer, but that seems like it is much harder to contain and/or remove??

She is having her 4th round of chemo tomorrow and set for surgery to remove the cancer in September, than some more chemo after that.

Why does she have to do more chemo after the surgery? Any ideas?

I've asked her, but she isnt really sure, she's just doing what the doctor's say!

Thanks so much!

-Chris

Barbara53

what to expect
Hi Chris,
Like yours, my Mom was diagnosed 3C in Feb '09, but any involvement outside the abdominal cavity makes it stage 4, so she was really stage 4 because of a lymph node in her groin. The paint splatter pattern you describe is the nature of this disease. It won't be until after the surgery that the doctors will know exactly where your mother's lesions are located. My mother's were everywhere, from colon to liver, and she's still with us! Don't let your fears blot out hope.

This is a major, major surgery, so be forewarned. After your mother recovers (usually 6 weeks, which is far from totally recovered) the follow-up chemo is to attack microscopic cancer cells and/or to further shrink lesions that could not be surgically removed.

Being your mother's caregiver is a winding road, and you are wise to learn as much as you can in order to do your job well. Then again, it may be the best job you will ever have.

saundra

Click on our picture
You can click on our pictures and read our history if we have entered one. I won't repeat mine here. I am Stage IV because I had tumors in my liver and spleen. I was diagnosed 3/2/2007 and am still fighting. Generally, any lowering of the CA 125 number is looked upon as "favorable". It is a good marker for some of us and not so good for others. I had four chemo rounds before surgery that shrunk my tumors (multiple) by more than 50%. The surgery was "optiminal" which meant it got everything in sight over 1/2 cm. Then I took 6 more chemos to clean up left over cells as good as possible. The debulking surgery is major and your mother needs to work on building her body beforehand. She is going to need your support. It is pretty hard to get all of the bad cells out but it can and has been done. We are here for you. Saundra

sanam

saundra said:

Click on our picture
You can click on our pictures and read our history if we have entered one. I won't repeat mine here. I am Stage IV because I had tumors in my liver and spleen. I was diagnosed 3/2/2007 and am still fighting. Generally, any lowering of the CA 125 number is looked upon as "favorable". It is a good marker for some of us and not so good for others. I had four chemo rounds before surgery that shrunk my tumors (multiple) by more than 50%. The surgery was "optiminal" which meant it got everything in sight over 1/2 cm. Then I took 6 more chemos to clean up left over cells as good as possible. The debulking surgery is major and your mother needs to work on building her body beforehand. She is going to need your support. It is pretty hard to get all of the bad cells out but it can and has been done. We are here for you. Saundra

Hi Chris
I am also a
Hi Chris
I am also a caregiver.My Mom was diagnosed in Dec 2009.She had full 6 rounds of carbo/taxol first and she had her surgery in May.Her CA125 went frm 1200 in dignosis to 36 after 6rounds of chemo and before the surgery.
She is 3c as well.Her surgery went so smooth and she recovered very fast and there was no complications.the tumors were every where on her omentum,close to spleen and liver and also sticked to bladder.Her intestine is intact.She got home after 4days and she had her 1st round of chemo 10 days after surgery.currently she is on Gemzar/Campto regimen every 2weeks and each 2 sessions are a full dose.She did 6 sessions till now and after the 8th session(4 full round)she will have a scan and blood works.The doctor said if the results are desirable(I hope they are)she will go through another 4 rounds of the same regimen.
She is doing great with the new regimen and her hair is growing back.She also gained 6 pounds after the new regimen.(She lost about 18 pounds prior to her diagnosis and pretty stable during carbo/taxol)
I live in Iran and there are diffrent procedures than US here.This board really helped me to equip myself with information so I can help her.I am here for you and everybody in this board is a real hero.Educate yourself and be there for her.My life started getting back to a "new normal" and my mom also is dealing much better with the situation.Bear in mind that you are both in a road with ups and downs.
Hug
Sanam

kellyh33

Chemo
Hi Chris,
It sounds like you and I are in the same position. My Mother was diagnosed June 8th with at least stage 4. When she was first diagnosed her CA 125 was 14,000 after her first round it went down to 8,000. She had bloodwork done yesterday b/c she goes for her third treatment tomorrow. We are hoping to see her numbers move into the hundreds and not the thousands.
Mom's oncologist gave us a letter indicating the standard of care is three rounds of chemo, then surgery then another three rounds of chemo. That is the way things are done where she is being treated.
Good luck to you and your mom.